Ab Origine wrote:
Coco wrote:
OK, when I was taught to bow they said bow forward slightly at the waist, do not bend forward upper body curving the spine downward, and keep the face leveled upward so as to not present submissiveness.
But that was in business.
Anyway, I offer respectful bow to all new friends.
If you're meeting the Queen (or me) for the first time, a
lady should bend slightly at the knee, placing one foot behind the other.
The trick of it is to not go too squat and flash your drawers to all and sundry.
I'm still trying to teach Psketti this. (To wear knickers, not bow). I've only just managed to stop her pissing in the corner.
My dear mother, whom now passed family members endearingly termed as 'that woman
', made sure that when I was a young girl I should learn to curtsey properly.
It's not the simple matter of one foot in front of the other and waist bow, it's a matter of knees bent in a Z-like fashion (but not too Z-like!), and lowering the body ALLLLLLLL the way down without sticking the bum heavenward and bowing at the waist (keep the spine straight!), face downward.
Y'know, in case such a grand curtsey is required.
In America.
In the latter 20th century.
Try going down like that and not fall over.
Thank goodness I'm now 45 and grumpy and, as a matter of fact, was only recently awakened by my dear mother because she thought I was to work this morning because I've been working a full week for the past six weeks while my boss was out on maternity leave, but now the baby is in day care and I'm back to part time.
The point being, I never wound up using the 'grand curtsey', as I call it, to anyone but my grandparents. The maternals were born in 1893 and 1906 and the paternals were born in the late 1920's. The latter thought curtsying was stupid.
Anything else I learned, I learned during my first decade in Corporate America service. I still do Corporate America 'cause its what I know - sorta - more like
Corporate America Lite nowadays 'cause Ima rebel!
Still, I know how to give a proper 'business' handshake (unlike a casual-social, 'lady' handshake), and just yesterday a lovely English lady came to my office to conduct business and when concluded I said 'Ta, Mrs. X', to her, and which she musingly smiled and wished me 'ta' as well while exiting. (I certainly HOPE you lot didn't teach me something bad!)
Should I ever enjoy the privilege and pleasure of greeting you in person, please excuse that I shan't afford a 'grand curtsey' (I'm old, dammit!), but rather a proper bow as a sign of respect....and shake your hand afterward 'lady-style'!
'Cause Ima rebel, dammit!!
me 
